Description

Welcome to the Plumis fire protection blog. Stay informed about domestic fire safety, fire building regulations and ADB-compliant solutions for open plan living. Please feel free to browse through the posts and comment about what you read.

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Valentine’s Day: Cooking, candles and smoke, oh my!

Recent rumours that we’re headed for a triple
dip recession will have tons of us skipping the romantic meals out this year
and opting for an intimate evening in. This means more cooking, more candles
and potentially more fires if we’re not careful.

To help you reduce your risk, we’ve put
together some simple safety tips you can follow, you’re welcome!

Cooking tips

From 2011 to 2012, cooking appliances were the
main source of ignition for 19, 612 accidental house fires. That’s over 52% of
all domestic fires.

So before you get your Heston hat on, swat up
on these safety tips:

1.Never leave pans
unattended

It’s important that you have complete control
of all your appliances and the substances they contain. If you need to leave
the room, take your pans off the heat.

2.Don’t use matches or
lighters to light gas stoves

When you use matches and lighters it may take
several attempts to create a spark, during which time, excess gas will enter
the room. Opt for a long-reach, gas fire lighter instead. It’ll also keep your
hands away from the flame.

3.Ensure saucepan
handles are turned out to either side of the cooker

This means that they’re not hovering over a
flame, which could cause an ignition. It also means that handles aren’t
protruding from the front of the cooker, so you’re less likely to knock it
over.

Candles aren’t the worst culprits for starting
domestic fires, but from 2011 to 2012, they were responsible for 952 accidental
ignitions.

But you don’t have to cut candles out of
Valentine’s Day altogether - you can just follow some simple guidelines:

1.Never place a lit
candle directly on a surface

You can use a candle warmer, candle lantern,
candle burner or candle tray – anything that’ll keep the candle firmly in place
and off the bare surface.

2.Protect candles from
draughts, curtains and other fabrics

Keep the flame contained with candle lanterns
and other safe accessories.

3.Never go to sleep
when candles are lit

Candles are often used to create a relaxed
environment, so it’s easily done. If you start to feel drowsy, extinguish the
flame.

4.Keep candles out of
the reach of children and pets

Animals and kids may knock candles over or
burn themselves.

5.Never move a candle
once it’s lit

If you want to take a candle into another
room, put the flame out first and allow the candle to cool before moving it.

6.Extinguish the flame
with a snuffer or inverted metal spoon

This way, you get to avoid all of the problems
associated with blowing hot wax.

Smoke alarm checks

It’s extremely surprising (and highly
unnecessary) that in the case of 14, 891 fires in 2011 - 2012, there was no
smoke alarms present. And in 7,852 cases, there was an alarm present, but
didn’t operate.

Make sure your alarm’s working properly with
this checklist:

1.Make sure there’s a
smoke alarm fitted on every level of your home

You never know where an ignition might occur.

2.Change your battery
annually

Most batteries last around a year, so it’s
best to make a point of changing them every year.

3.Check your smoke
alarm weekly

You can do this by pressing the button on your
alarm until it sounds.

4.Vacuum the inside of
your alarm every two years

You can open up your alarm case, or if it
doesn’t open, hoover through the holes. This’ll make sure there’s no dust on
the sensors.

5.Replace your alarm
every 10 years

You should buy an entirely new unit to replace
the old one.

Author bio

Natasha Sabin is an avid blogger and fire safety enthusiast.
She’s been let loose by Fire Safety Suppliers to share new, exciting, and
somewhat disturbing developments in the world of fire. Email natasha.sabin@islandfireprotection.co.uk,
or visit http://www.firesafetysupplier.com/.